Method of generating index image, apparatus for generating index image , method of correcting index image data, apparatus for correcting index image data, method of correcting edit auxiliary data, and apparatus for correcting edit auxiliary data

ABSTRACT

It becomes possible to generate an index information used as an auxiliary upon edition on a recording medium where video information is recorded to record it on a recording medium, and to select a picture matched with a desired condition from the video information recorded on the recording medium to generate the index picture information.  
     The controller  35  reads a time code of a mark-in point from a cassette attached memory  16,  reproduces the picture of the mark-in point matched with the desired condition as an index picture and supplies the reproduced signal from a video signal compression coding/decoding unit  40  to an index generating unit  40.  The index generating unit  40  compresses and reduces the index picture and arranges a plurality of pictures in one frame, thereby generating an index picture information. The index generating unit  40  outputs the index pictures to record them on the video tape  27.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an index picture generatingmethod of generating an index picture information which is useful whenpicture informations recorded on a recording medium such as a video tapeor the like are edited, an index picture generating apparatus therefor,an index picture information modifying method, an index pictureinformation modifying apparatus, an edition auxiliary informationmodifying method and an edition auxiliary information modifyingapparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Previously, there has been an off-line editing as one method forediting picture information recorded in a recording medium of a videotape or the like. The off-line editing is such a method that the pictureinformation recorded in an original tape at the site of the picturetaking is once copied in another recording tape, that is, an editingtape, and on this editing tape, the editing data such as an editingpoint are prepared, and on the basis of this editing data, a master tapeis prepared. In this off-line editing, a desired master tape can beprepared without accidentally eliminating or rewriting the importantrecording information on the original tape.

[0003] However, in the off-line editing, since the editing work isperformed by using an editing tape copied from an original tape, thereis such a problem that when copying the information on an original tapeto an editing tape, time and labor are taken. Furthermore, whenpreparing editing data by using an editing tape, for ensuring anapproach running term in advance, the pre-roll is inevitable, andfurther, since the access to the object editing point takes time, thereis such a problem that preparation of editing data inevitably takesconsiderable time.

[0004] Therefore, as one method to solve said problems, there is such amethod that the information on an original tape is once copied in adisk-like recording medium such as a hard disk in which recording ispossible and random access is possible, and by using the copiedinformation on the disk-like recording medium, the editing data areprepared. By this method, since the access to the editing point can beperformed in a short time, it is possible to decrease the time requiredfor the editing work.

[0005] When a small picture is produced from a head of each scene uponshooting an image, even if there ia a target image in the middle of thescene, it is impossible to set the image in the small screen and furthera small screen which is not necessary may be produced, which increasesthe number of small screens unnecessarily. Therefore, it may becomeimpossible to carry out an editing work efficiently.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In view of such aspects, it is an object of the present inventionto provide index picture generating method and apparatus which make itpossible to generate an index picture information used as an auxiliaryupon edition to record it on a recording medium and to make it possibleto select a picture matched with a desired condition from videoinformation recorded on the recording medium to generate an indexpicture information.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide editionauxiliary information modifying method and apparatus which make itpossible to modify an edition auxiliary information used for generatingan index picture information for easily displaying an index pictureserving as an index upon edition of video information, used for edition,and recorded on at least one of a recording medium where the videoinformation is recorded and a memory accompanying the recording medium.

[0008] It is further another object of the present invention to provideindex picture generating method and apparatus which can generate anindex picture information used as an auxiliary upon edition by using arecording medium where video information is recorded in correspondencewith an optional point serving as an index upon edition on a recordingmedium, and which can record the information on the recording medium.

[0009] An index picture generating method according to the presentinvention includes a step of recording an index information forspecifying a point or an area which is located on a recording medium andserves as an index upon edition and an additional information concerningattributes of a video information at the point or area specified by theindex information on at least one of a recording medium used to record avideo information and a memory accompanying the recording medium upon atleast one of the recording and reproduction of the video information,and a step of, based on at least the index information of the indexinformation and the additional information recorded on at least one ofthe recording medium and the memory, selecting an index picture used foredition from video information on the recording medium and generating anindex picture information used for easily displaying the index pictureto record the index picture information on the recording medium.

[0010] An index picture generating apparatus according to the presentinvention includes an index picture information generating means for,based on at least an index information of the index information forspecifying a point or an area located on a recording medium serving asan index upon edition and an additional information concerningattributes of a video information at the point or area specified by theindex information which are recorded, selecting an index picture usedfor edition from video information on the recording medium to generatean index picture information used for easily displaying the indexpicture, and an index picture information recording means for recordingthe index picture information generated by the index picture informationrecording means on the recording medium.

[0011] According to the index picture generating method or the indexpicture generating apparatus according to the present invention, theindex picture is selected based on the index information of the indexinformation and the additional information recorded on at least one ofthe recording medium and the memory, an index picture information usedfor easily displaying the index picture is generated, and the indexpicture information is recorded on the recording medium. Therefore, evenif the index picture information is not generated upon the shooting,then it is possible to generate the index picture information based onat least the index information of the index information and theadditional information recorded on at least one of the recording mediumand the memory.

[0012] An index picture generating method according to the presentinvention includes a step of recording an index information forspecifying a point which is located on a recording medium and serves asan index upon edition on at least one of a recording medium used torecord a video information and a memory accompanying the recordingmedium, and a step of, based on at least the index information recordedon at least one of the recording medium and the memory, selecting anindex picture used for edition from video information on the recordingmedium and generating an index picture information used for easilydisplaying the index picture to record the index picture information onthe recording medium.

[0013] An index picture generating apparatus according to the presentinvention includes an index picture information recording means for, byusing a recording medium where an index information for specifying anoptional point which is located on a recording medium and serves as anindex upon edition on at least one of a recording medium where a videoinformation is recorded and a memory accompanying the recording medium,based on at least the index information recorded on at least one of therecording medium and the memory, selecting an index picture used foredition from video information on the recording medium and generating anindex picture information used for easily displaying the index pictureto record it on the recording medium.

[0014] According to the index picture generating method or the indexpicture generating apparatus according to the present invention, theindex picture is selected based on the index information recorded on atleast one of the recording medium and the memory, an index pictureinformation used for easily displaying the index picture is generated,and the index picture information is recorded on the recording medium.Therefore, even if the index picture information is not generated uponthe shooting, then it is possible to generate the index pictureinformation based on at least the index information of the indexinformation and the additional information recorded on at least one ofthe recording medium and the memory.

[0015] An index picture information modifying method according to thepresent invention includes an index picture information modifying stepof modifying an index picture information which is used for easilydisplaying an index picture used for edition of video information andwhich is recorded on a recording medium where the video information isrecorded, and an index picture storing step of recording the modifiedindex picture information on the recording medium.

[0016] An index picture information modifying apparatus according to thepresent invention includes an index picture information modifying meansfor modifying an index picture information which is used for easilydisplaying an index picture used for edition of video information andwhich is recorded on a recording medium where the video information isrecorded, and an index picture storing means for recording the indexpicture information modified by the index picture information modifyingmeans on the recording medium.

[0017] According to the index picture information modifying method orthe index picture information modifying apparatus of the presentinvention, the index picture information recorded on the recordingmedium where the video information is recorded is modified, and themodified index picture information is recorded on the recording medium.

[0018] An edition auxiliary information modifying method according tothe present invention a step of modifying an edition auxiliaryinformation used for generating an index picture information used foreasily displaying an index picture serving as an index for edition ofthe video information, used for edition and recorded on at least one ofa recording medium where the video information is recorded and a memoryaccompanying the recording medium, and a step of recording the modifiededition auxiliary information on at least one of the recording mediumand the memory.

[0019] An edition auxiliary information modifying method according tothe present invention includes an edition auxiliary informationmodifying means for modifying an edition auxiliary information used forgenerating an index picture information used for easily displaying anindex picture serving as an index for edition of the video information,used for edition and recorded on at least one of a recording mediumwhere the video information is recorded and a memory accompanying therecording medium, and an edition auxiliary information recording meansfor recording the edition auxiliary information modified by the editionauxiliary information modifying means on at least one of the recordingmedium and the memory.

[0020] According to the edition auxiliary information modifying methodor the edition auxiliary information modifying apparatus of the presentinvention, the edition auxiliary information recorded on the recordingmedium where the video information is recorded is modified, and themodified edition auxiliary information is recorded on the recordingmedium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021]FIG. 1 is a diagram used to explain an arrangement of the wholesystem to which method and apparatus according to one embodiment of thepresent invention is applied; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing anarrangement of a digital VTR unit of a camera/recorder shown in FIG. 1;FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a digital videocassette recorder shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagramshowing a means for communicating with a cassette attached memory in thedigital video cassette shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a diagram used toexplain a protocol used when data is written in the cassette attachedmemory; FIG. 6 is a diagram used to a relationship between a serial dataand a serial clock in FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a diagram used to explainprotocol set when data is read out from the cassette attached memory;FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement of a pack whichis a unit of data recorded in the cassette attached memory; FIG. 9 is anexplanatory diagram showing a data format of the cassette attachedmemory; FIGS. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are explanatory diagramsschematically showing contents of a pack concerning an index pictureused in the method and apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention; FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing thedetailed content of the pack shown in FIG. 10; FIG. 16 is an explanatorydiagram showing the detailed content of the pack shown in FIG. 11; FIG.17 is an explanatory diagram showing the detailed content of the packshown in FIG. 12; FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing the detailedcontent of the pack shown in FIG. 14; FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagramshowing the detailed content of the pack shown in FIG. 14; FIG. 20 is anexplanatory diagram showing a recording pattern on a video tape in thedigital video cassette shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 21 is an explanatorydiagram showing a structure of data recorded in an audio data portionshown in FIG. 20; FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a structureof data recorded in a video data portion shown in FIG. 20; FIG. 23 is anexplanatory diagram showing a structure of data recorded in a subcodedata portion shown in FIG. 20; FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showingan arrangement of the audio data portion k the video data portion andthe subcode portion on the video tape; FIGS. 25 and 26 are diagrams usedto explain a format of the subcode portion on the video tape; FIG. 27 isan explanatory diagram showing a physical arrangement of the subcodedata on the video tape; FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing astate of the video tape when a mark-in point and a mark-out point aredesignated upon the recording of the video information in one embodimentof the present invention; FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram showing anexample of a state of the video tape when the index picture informationis generated according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG.30 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a state of the videotape when the index picture information is generated according to theembodiment of the present invention; FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagramshowing a state of the video tape when the cue point is designated uponthe recording of the video information according to the embodiment ofthe present invention; FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram showing anexample of a state of the video tape when the index picture informationis generated according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG.33 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a state of thevideo tape when the index picture information is generated according tothe embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 34 is an explanatorydiagram used to explain an example of the picture displayed based on theindex picture information according to the embodiment of the presentinvention; FIG. 35 is a flowchart used to explain an example of an indexpicture selecting operation according to the embodiment of the presentinvention; FIGS. 36 and 37 are flowcharts used to explain an operationfor modifying an auxiliary information according to the embodiment ofthe present invention; FIG. 38 is a diagram used explain change of themark-in point according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG.39 is a diagram used to explain change of data in the cassette attachedmemory upon the change of the mark-in point shown in FIG. 38; FIG. 40 isan explanatory diagram used to explain modification of the index pictureinformation upon the change of the mark-in point shown in FIG. 38; FIG.41 is a diagram used to explain a relationship between the index pictureinformation and the data in the cassette attached memory in the caseshown in FIGS. 38 and 40; FIG. 42 is a diagram used to explain additionof the mark-in point and the mark-out point according to the embodimentof the present invention; FIG. 43 is a diagram used to explain change ofdata in the cassette attached memory upon the addition of the mark-inpoint and the mark-out point shown in FIG. 42; FIG. 44 is a diagram usedto explain modification of index picture information upon the additionof the mark-in point and the mark-out point shown in FIG. 42; FIG. 45 isa diagram used to explain a relationship between the index pictureinformation and the data in the cassette attached memory in the caseshown in FIGS. 42 and 44; FIG. 46 is a diagram used to explain a methodof recording a modified index picture information independently of apreviously recorded index picture information according to theembodiment of the present invention; FIG. 47 is a diagram used toexplain a method of modifying data in the cassette attached memory inthe case shown in FIG. 46; FIG. 48 is a diagram used explain a method ofoverwriting the modified index picture information on a portion of thevideo tape where the index picture information is already recordedaccording to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 49 is adiagram used to explain modification of the data in the cassetteattached memory in an example shown in FIG. 48; FIG. 50 is a flowchartshowing an operation of reading the index picture information recordedon the video tape to store it in the index memory according to theembodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 51 is a flowchart showingan operation of fetching the respective index pictures from the videotape based on the index information recorded in the cassette attachedmemory to generate the index picture information according to theembodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0022] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] Initially, the arrangement of the whole system to which indexpicture generating method and apparatus according to this embodiment areapplied, will be described with reference to FIG. 1. This systemincludes a camera/recorder 11 having a digital video camera unit and adigital VTR unit which records a picture signal obtained by taking apicture at this digital video camera unit, into a digital video cassette12 as a digital signal, a digital video cassette recorder 13 whichperforms reproduction and the like of a picture signal recorded in thedigital video cassette 12, and an editing device 14 which performs nonlinear editing by using the information from the digital video cassetterecorder 13. The digital video camera unit and the digital VTR unit inthe camera/recorder 11 may be integrated, or may be separable. Thedigital video cassette 12 uses a video tape of, for example, 6.3 mm (¼inch), and includes a memory attached to a cassette using asemiconductor memory in the cassette, and has a terminal 15 forconnecting the memory attached to a cassette and an outside circuit, forexample, at the back portion of the cassette. The digital video cassetterecorder 13 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the index picture generatingapparatus according to this embodiment.

[0024]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the digitalVTR unit in a camera/recorder 11 shown in FIG. 1. This digital VTR unit20 includes an input terminal 21 which inputs a picture signal from thedigital video camera unit, an output terminal 29 which outputs a picturesignal, an A/D converter 22 which transforms a picture signal inputtedfrom the input terminal 21, by analog-digital (hereafter, referred tosimply as A/D) transformation, a picture signal compressioncoding/decoding unit 23 which performs the processing of compressioncoding of a picture signal outputted from the A/D converter 22 and theprocessing of decoding (extension) of a signal reproduced from a videotape, and a D/A converter 28 which transforms the signal decoded by thepicture signal compression coding/decoding unit 23, by digital-analog(hereafter, referred to simply as D/A) transformation, and outputs thatto the output terminal 29. Furthermore, the picture signal compressioncoding/decoding unit 23 is arranged to perform the processing ofcompression coding by using the discrete cosine transformation(hereafter, referred to simply as DCT).

[0025] The digital VTR unit 20 further includes an error correctionprocessing unit 24 which performs addition of an error correction codeto the signal subjected to compression coding by the picture signalcompression coding/decoding unit 23, and performs error correctionprocessing to the signal reproduced from a video tape and outputs thesignal to the picture signal compression coding/decoding unit 23, achannel coding unit 25 which performs coding processing suitable forbeing recorded in a video tape, to the signal having an error correctioncode added by the error correction processing unit 24, and performsdecoding processing corresponding to this coding processing, to thesignal reproduced from the video tape and outputs the signal to theerror correction processing unit 24, and a video head 26 which recordsthe signal coded by the channel coding unit 25 into a video tape 27 inthe digital video cassette 12, and reproduces the signal recorded in thevideo tape 27 and outputs that to the channel coding unit 25.Furthermore, it is arranged that the video head 26 includes a recordinghead and a reproducing head, and can perform recording and reproducingat the same time.

[0026] The digital VTR unit 20 further includes a mechanical unit 31which performs loading of the digital video cassette 12, driving of arotational drum having the video head 26 attached, and the like, adisplay 32 which performs various types of displays, an operational unit33 by which the user performs various types of operations; a terminal 34for the connection with the terminal 15 connected to the attached memory16 of a cassette in the digital video cassette 12, and a controller 35connected to the picture signal compression coding/decoding unit 23, theerror correction processing unit 24, the channel coding unit 25, themechanical unit 31, the display 32, the operational unit 33, and theterminal 34.

[0027] The operational unit 33 has a plurality of switches to performspecified instructions. In this embodiment, the switches include amark-in switch for indicating a start point of the effective area ineach scene or take, that is, a mark-in point, a mark-out switch forindicating a end point of the effective area in each scene or take, thatis, a mark-out point, an OK/NG switch for indicating OK or NG (no good)to each scene or take, a take switch for indicating the take number,aCUE switch for indicating the cue point to be an index arbitrarilyspecified by the user, and a mode changeover switch for changing a modeto the mark mode, the CUE mode and the mark-in/out mode described lateron. The OK/NG switch is arranged to shift between the OK indicationstate and the NG indication state for each pressing. A switch forindicating the scene number is not provided, and the reason is that thescene number is arranged to be automatically increased for each scene.The mark mode is a mode to make it possible that the user arbitrarilyindicates the mark-in point and the mark-out point by using the mark-inswitch and the mark-out switch, and the CUE mode is a mode to make itpossible that the user arbitrarily indicates the cue point by using theCUE switch. The mark-in/out mode is a mode in which the start time ofpicture taking and the end time of picture taking of each scene areautomatically set to the mark-in point and the mark-out point. Theoperational unit 33 may be provided integrally to the camera/recorder11, or may be a remote control device. Furthermore, the mark-in point isarranged to be used as the in-point of the material used in editing.

[0028] The controller 35 is composed of a CPU (central processing unit),a ROM (read only memory), a RAM (random access memory), an input andoutput section, and the like, and is arranged to control, based on thetime code signal, the total of the digital VTR unit 20 by performing theprogram stored in the ROM, by using the RAM as a working area.

[0029]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the digitalvideo cassette recorder 13 shown in FIG. 1. Since the large part of thearrangement of this digital video cassette recorder 13 is similar to thearrangement of the digital VTR unit 20 shown in FIG. 2, the same marksare given to the components similar to those of the digital VTR unit 20,and the description thereof will be omitted. The arrangement of thedigital video cassette recorder 13 is different from that of the digitalVTR unit 20, in that the digital video cassette recorder has an indexgenerating unit 40 and a switch 39 for selecting either of the outputsignal of this index generating unit 40 or the output signal of the A/Dconverter 22 to output the output signal to the picture signalcompression coding/decoding unit 23 and that the operational unit 33 hasthe function to indicate the preparation of index information. The indexgenerating unit 40 is input with a signal output from the picture signalcompression coding/decoding unit 23 to the D/A converter 28. The indexgenerating unit 40 is controlled by the controller 35 and transmits andreceives signals to and from the picture signal compressioncoding/decoding unit 23. The index generating unit 40 has an indexmemory 41 and a memory controller, not shown. The memory controller hasa CPU which controls the index memory 41.

[0030] As described later in detail, the controller 35 and the indexgenerating unit 40 shown in FIG. 3 select an index picture as the indexpicture serving as an aid used upon edition, from among the pictureinformation recorded in the video tape 27, on the basis of theinformation of a mark-in point, a mark-out point, OK/NG, a take number,a cue point, and a scene number, and prepare index picture informationto simply display this index picture, and perform the action to recordthis index picture information into the video tape 27. In thisembodiment, the index picture information is the information about apicture made by further arranging, in a sheet of frame, a plurality ofindex pictures each made by compressing and reducing each index picture,in other words, the picture information showing a set screen ofcompressed and reduced index pictures.

[0031] In this embodiment, when recording the picture information in thevideo tape 27 by the digital VTR unit 20 shown in FIG. 2, or whenreproducing the picture information recorded in the video tape 27, bythe digital VTR unit 20 or the digital video cassette recorder 13 shownin FIG. 3, it is possible to indicate the mark-in point, the mark-outpoint, OK/NG, the take number, and the cue point by using theoperational unit 33, and these indicated information and the informationof the scene number are arranged to be recorded in the attached memory16 of a cassette in the digital video cassette 12 and the video tape 27.The information of the mark-in point, the mark-out point and the cuepoint corresponds to an index information according to the presentinvention, and the information about the OK?NG, the take number and thescene number corresponds to the additional information according to thepresent invention.

[0032] A means for communicating between the attached memory 16 of acassette in the digital video cassette 12, and the digital VTR unit 20or the digital video cassette recorder 13 (hereafter, the digital VTRunit 20 or the digital video cassette recorder 13 is referred to simplyas a main body 30), will be described with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG.7, by way of example.

[0033]FIG. 4 shows one example of the arrangement of the terminal 15 onthe digital video cassette 12 side and the terminal 34 on the main body30 side, and the arrangement of the interface on the main body 30 side.In this example, the terminals 15, 34 are each composed of 4 pins, andthe detail is as follows: a power supply (VCC) pin, a serial data(S-DATA) pin, a serial clock (S-CLOCK) pin, and a ground (GND) pin, andthe corresponding pins are arranged to be mutually connected. The powersupply and the serial clock are arranged to be supplied from the mainbody 30. The ground pin is arranged to be grounded on the main body 30side. The serial data pin is arranged to serve for common use of inputand output. The interface on the main body 30 side has an input buffer36 for wave form shaping whose input end is connected to the serial datapin, an output buffer 37 for wave form shaping whose output end isconnected to the serial data pin, a serial clock buffer 38 whose outputend is connected to the serial clock pin, and a switch 39 one end ofwhich is connected to the power supply pin and the other end of which isconnected to the power supply circuit in the main body 30. The main body30 has a function to control ON/OFF of the power supply supplied to thedigital video cassette 12, by using the switch 39, and this functionfunctions as the reset of the attached memory 16 of a cassette.

[0034] Next, by referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the protocol ofcommunication at the time of write-in of the data from the main body 30into the attached memory 16 of a cassette, will be described. In theprotocol at the time of write-in, as shown in FIG. 5, the communicationstarts by the fall of the serial data S-DATA when the serial clockS-CLOCK is “H”. After that, an address of 3 bytes is set, and further,the period to show the write-in of the data (data write) from the mainbody 30 to the attached memory 16 of a cassette (the serial data S-DATAis “L” when the serial clock S-CLOCK is “H”), continues. At the time ofreceiving the data up to this, the attached memory 16 of a cassetteoutputs “L” to the serial data S-DATA in the next period of the dataACK. After that, the data are written in the attached memory 16 of acassette while handshake is performed by the data ACK and the data, forevery 1 byte. The number of data after address set has variable-length.In FIG. 5, such an example that the data for 2 bytes are written inafter the address of 3 bytes has been set, is shown. For example, if theset address is 0100 h (h shows a hexadecimal number), and the data are0AA h and 055 h, the data 0AA h are written in the address 0100 h, andthe data 055 h are written in the address 0100 h. The communicationfinishes by the rise of the serial data S-DATA when the serial clockS-CLOCK is “H”. The effective term of the data is the term of “H” of theserial clock S-CLOCK. The relation between the serial data S-DATA andthe serial clock S-CLOCK, as for the address set and the data, is shownin FIG. 6. As shown in this figure, 8 clocks are necessary for thetransmission of 1 byte of address or data.

[0035] Next, by referring to FIG. 7, the protocol of communication atthe time of read-out of data from the attached memory 16 of a cassetteto the main body 30, will be described. When compared with the protocolat the time of write-in shown in FIG. 5, the protocol at the time ofread-out is basically similar to the protocol at the time of read-out,except that after the address set, the period to show the read-out ofthe data (data read) from the attached memory 16 of a cassette to themain body 30 (the serial data S-DATA is “H” when the serial clockS-CLOCK is “H”), continues instead of the period to show the data write.

[0036] Next, by referring to FIG. 8 to FIG. 22, the data recorded in theattached memory 16 of a cassette will be described. First, FIG. 8 showsthe structure of a pack as a unit of data recorded in the attachedmemory 16 of a cassette. This pack is composed of 5 bytes, and has apack header 51 of 1 byte and a data section 52 of 4 bytes. The contentsof the pack header 51 are different according to the type of thecommand. Furthermore, in the figure, the LSB shows the least significantbit and the MSB expresses the most significant bit.

[0037]FIG. 9 shows the data format of the attached memory 16 of acassette. This data format has a main area 53 and an option area 54.Since the contents of the main area 53 are not directly related to thepresent invention, the description will be omitted. Furthermore, theformat shown in FIG. 9 is specified in “Specifications of Consumer-UseDigital VCRs using 6.3 mm magnetic tape”(alias Blue Book).

[0038] The information related to the digital video cassette or theindex picture is recorded in the option area 54. In this embodiment, itis prescribed that the packs concerning the index pictures includespacks IPn1, IPn2 (n=1, 2, . . . ; n is increased according to the shiftof the scene or take) related to the information such as the mark-in,the mark-out and the like, packs CUEn (n=1, 2, . . . , n; n isincremented whenever the cue point is designated) concerning theinformation of the cue points, and packs IPabb1, IPabb2 concerning theinformation for specifying the recording position on the video tape 27of the index picture information that is the picture information of apicture containing a group of index pictures. In this embodiment, thecontent of the pack header of a pack concerning the index picture ismade to be “FBh”.

[0039]FIG. 10 shows the outline of the contents of the pack IPn1. Inthis pack IPn1, it is arranged that in the digital section 52, a flag(in FIG. 10, noted “OK”) showing the high ranking 1 byte of the relativevalue of the mark-out point, the scene number, the take number, andOK/NG, is recorded. FIG. 11 shows the outline of the contents of thepack IPn2. In this pack IPn2, it is arranged that in the data section52, the low ranking 1 byte of the relative value of the mark-out pointand the time code (hour, minute, second)of the mark-in point, arerecorded. Here, the time code means the inherent positional information(time information) for each frame recorded on a tape.

[0040] The relative value of the mark-out point shows the relative valueof the time code from the mark-in point of the mark-out point, and isarranged to be shown by the total of 2 bytes of the high ranking 1 bytein the pack IPn1 and the low ranking 1 byte in the pack IPn2. It isarranged that the maximum value of the scene number is 999 and themaximum value of the take number is 15. It is arranged that in the flagshowing OK/NG, “1” indicates OK and “0” indicates NG.

[0041]FIG. 12 shows the outline of the contents of the pack CUEn. Inthis pack CUEn, it is arranged that in the data section 52, the timecode (hour, minute, second, frame) of the cue point is recorded.

[0042]FIG. 12 shows the outline of the contents of the pack IPadd1. Inthis pack IPadd1, it is arranged that in the data section 52, the timecode (hour, minute, second, frame) showing the recording position on thevideo tape 27 of the index picture information is recorded. FIG. 14shows the outline of the contents of the pack IPadd2. In this packIPadd2, it is arranged that in the data section 52, for the relief atthe time of overlapping of the time code, the absolute track numbershowing the recording position on the video tape 27 of the index pictureinformation is recorded.

[0043] Furthermore, in FIG. 10 to FIG. 14, the 3 bits noted b2, b1, b0are used as the sub header, and when b2, b1, b0 are 0, 0, 0, to be thepack IPadd1 is expressed, and when b2, b1, b0 are 0, 0, 1, to be thepack IPadd2 is expressed, and when b2, b1, b0 are 0, 1, 0, to be thepack IPn1 is expressed, and when b2, b1, b0 are 0, 1, 1, to be the packIPn2 is expressed, and when b2, b1, b0 are 1, 0, 0, to be the pack CUEnis expressed.

[0044]FIG. 15 to FIG. 19 show the detailed contents of the packs IPn1,IPn2, CUEn, IPadd1, IPadd2, respectively. Each has a specified valueinserted into each specified position of the header section and the datasection, and in FIG. 16 to FIG. 18, TENS of FRAMES expresses a value oftens of frames, UNITS of FRAMES expresses a value of units of frames,TENS of SECONDS expresses a value of tens of seconds, UNITS of SECONDSexpresses a value of units of seconds, TENS of MINUTES expresses a valueof tens of minutes, UNITS of MINUTES expresses a value of units ofminutes, TENS of HOURS expresses a value of tens of hours, and UNITS ofHOURS expresses a value of units of hours.

[0045] With reference to FIG. 20 to FIG. 27, the data recorded in thevideo tape 27 will be described. Here, the description will be given,supposing that an NTSC signal is recorded and reproduced. FIG. 20 showsthe recording pattern on the video tape 27. On the video tape 27, 1frame is composed of 10 tracks. Each track 61 has an audio data section62, a video data section 63, and a sub code section 64. Furthermore, inthe figure, the arrow shown by the numeral 65 expresses the runningdirection of the head, that is, the order of recording and reproductionof the data.

[0046]FIG. 21 shows the structure for the data recorded in the audiodata section 62 in FIG. 20. In the audio data section 62, data arerecorded, which are arranged such that an external mark of 77×5 bytes isadded to a block of 77×9 bytes composed of audio auxiliary data 66 of5×9 bytes and audio data 67 of 72×9 bytes, and an internal mark 69 of8×14 bytes is further added to that. In the figure, the arrow shown bythe numeral 70 indicates the direction of recording and reproduction.For example, of a 16-bit audio data obtained by employing a samplingfrequency of 48 kHz, a first channel amount thereof is interleaved andrecorded on five tracks positioned on a first half of one frame (10tracks), and a second channel amount thereof is interleaved and recordedon five tracks positioned on a second half thereof. If a user intends torecord a management information on a portion of the audio auxiliary data66, then it is possible to record data of 12 bytes in view of the dataformat.

[0047]FIG. 22 shows the data structure for 1 track recorded in the videodata section 63 in FIG. 20. In the video data section 63, data arerecorded, which are arranged such that an external mark 73 of 77×11bytes is added to a block of 77×138 bytes composed of video auxiliarydata 71 of 77×(2+1) bytes and video data 72 of 77×135 bytes, and aninternal mark 74 of 8×149 bytes is further added to that. In the figure,the arrow shown by the numeral 75 shows the direction of recording andreproduction. In view of the format, the video auxiliary data 71 sectionhas an area of 156 bytes which the user can use to record data.

[0048]FIG. 26 shows the data structure recorded in the sub code section64 in FIG. 20. In the sub code section 64, the data arranged by addingan internal mark 77 of 2×12 bytes to a sub code 76 of 5×12 bytes, arerecorded. In the figure, the arrow shown by the numeral 78 shows thedirection of recording and reproducing. If the video and audiomanagement information is recorded in the subcode portion 64, then thesubcode section has an area of 24 bytes (except the pack header whichthe user can use to record data therein.

[0049]FIG. 24 shows the arrangement of the audio data section 62, thevideo data section 63, and the sub code section 64 on the video tape 27.In the figure, the arrow shown by the numeral 79 shows the direction ofrecording and reproduction. As shown in this figure, on the video tape27, the sections are arranged in the order of the audio data section 62,the video data portion 63, and the sub code section 64 in the directionof recording and reproduction.

[0050]FIGS. 25 and 26 are diagrams showing a format of the subcodeportion 64 formed on the video tape 27. FIG. 25 shows a data structureof one track amount of the five tracks positioned on the first half ofthe one frame (ten tracks). FIG. 26 shows a data structure of one trackamount of the five tracks positioned on the second half of the one frame(ten tracks). IN these figures, an area of 5×12 bytes denoted by asubcode data is the subcode portion 64. An area of 2×12 bytes located onthe left side of the subcode portion 64 is an ID code portion in a sync.block of the subcode which does not relate directly to the presentinvention and hence needs not to be described. A format described withreference to FIGS. 25 and 26 is described in the above-mentionedstandard.

[0051] A user can use an area of 5×6 bytes (24 bytes excluding a packheader) of the subcode portion 64 shown in FIGS. 25 and 26. In thisembodiment, the packs IPn1, IPn2, CUEn, IPadd1 and IPadd2 concerning theindex picture shown in FIGS. 14 and 17 are recorded in this user area.In FIGS. 25 and 26, portions represented by FB(IPn1), FB(IPn2), FB(CUE),FB(IPadd1), and FB(IPadd2) are respectively portions where the packsIPn1, IPn2, IPadd1, and IPadd2. An area FB(CUE) is recorded when the cuepoint is designated upon the cue mode. The packs concerning the indexpictures are similarly recorded on the first-half track side and thesecond-half track side. Therefore, the packs concerning the indexpicture and having the same contents are written ten times (ten trackamount).

[0052]FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a physical arrangement of the subcodedata on the video tape 17. One square in the figure corresponds to onepack. A blank portion without hatchings represents a portion which theuser can use.

[0053] An operation relating to the preparation of the index pictureinformation in the system shown in FIG. 1 and the index picturegenerating method according to these embodiment will be described.

[0054] Initially, there will be described the operation carried out whenthe mark-in point, the mark-out point, OK/NG, the take number, and thelike are instructed by using the operational unit 33 upon the recordingof the video information on the video tape 27 by the digital VTR unit 20shown in FIG. 2. When the picture information is recorded on the videotape 27 by the digital VTR unit 20 shown in FIG. 2, the picture signalfrom the digital video camera unit is inputted into the digital VTR unit20 through the input terminal 21. This picture signal is subjected toA/D transformation by the A/D converter 22, and is subjected tocompression coding by the picture signal compression coding/decodingsection 23, and an error correction code is added thereto by the errorcorrection processing unit 24, and coding processing suitable forrecording that into a video tape is performed by the channel coding unit25, and the picture signal is recorded in the video tape 27 by the videohead 26.

[0055] At the time of such recording operation, if the user selects themark mode, and instructs the mark-in point, the mark-out point, OK/NG,and the take number by using the operational unit 33, the instructedinformation and the information of the automatically increased scenenumber are recorded in the option area 54 of the attached memory 16 of acassette in the digital video cassette 12 and the sub code section 64 ofthe video tape 27, by the controller 35. The recording into the optionarea 54 of the attached memory 16 of a cassette is performed by such anaction that the controller 35 sends the data to the attached memory 16of a cassette through the terminals 34, 15, and the recording into thesub code section 64 of the video tape 27 is performed by such an actionthat the controller 35 sends the data to the channel coding unit 25.Furthermore, the information of the mark-in point, the mark-out point,OK/NG, the take number, and the scene number is recorded by the packsIPn1, IPn2 shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 15, and FIG. 16. Furthermore,at the time of selecting the mark-in/out mode, the information starttime and the picture taking end time of each scene are automaticallymade to be the mark-in point and the mark-out point, and the informationis recorded in the attached memory 16 of a cassette and the video tape27, and when the cue point is indicated by the operational unit 33, theinformation is recorded in the option area 54 of the attached memory 16of a cassette and the video tape 27 by the pack CUEn shown in FIG. 12and FIG. 17.

[0056]FIG. 28 typically shows the state of the video tape 27 at the timeof specifying a pair of mark-in point and mark-out point at 2 placeswhen recording the above mentioned picture information. In this figure,RS expresses the recording start point, RE expresses the recording endpoint, MARK-IN 1 expresses the first mark-in point, MARK-OUT 1 expressesthe first mark-out point, MARK-IN 2 expresses the second mark-in point,and MARK-OUT 2 expresses the second mark-out point. To each of the firstrecording material between the first mark-in point and the firstmark-out point, and the second recording material between the secondmark-in point and the second mark-out point, the additional informationof OK/NG, the take number, and the scene number is added.

[0057] Although the operation of indicating the mark-in point and thelike at the time of recording the picture information has beendescribed, but in this embodiment, it is also possible to indicate themark-in point and the like by using the operational unit 33, whenreproducing the picture information recorded in the video tape by thedigital VTR unit 20 or the digital video cassette recorder 13 shown inFIG. 3. In this case, when indicating the mark-in point and the like,the user may operate the operational unit 33 after once stopping thereproduction, or may operate the operational unit 33 while continuingthe reproduction. The method of recording the information such as themark-in point indicated at the time of reproducing the pictureinformation, into the attached memory 16 of a cassette and the videotape 27, is similar to that at the time of recording the pictureinformation. Furthermore, when the picture information is reproduced,the signal recorded in the video tape 27 is reproduced by the video head26, and decoded by the channel coding unit 25, and is subjected to thecolor correction processing by the error correction processing unit 24,and is decoded by the picture signal compression coding/decoding section23, and is subjected to the D/A transformation by the D/A converter 28,and is outputted by the output terminal 29.

[0058] An operation of designating the cue point with the operation unit33 when the picture information is recorded on the video tape 27 by thedigital VTR unit 20 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. When the pictureinformation is recorded on the video tape 27 by the digital VTR unit 20,the video signal from the digital video camera unit is input through theinput terminal 21 to the digital VTR unit 20. This video signal isconverted by the A/D converter 22 into the digital video signal,compression-coded by the picture signal compression coding/decoding unit23, added with an error correction code by the error correctionprocessing unit 24, subjected to a proper coding processing forrecording on the video tape by the channel coding unit 25. Then, thevideo signal is recorded on the video tape 27 by the video head 26.

[0059] If a user designates a cue point with the operation unit 33 uponsuch recording operation, then the information about the cue point isrecorded the option area 54 of the cassette attached memory 16 of thedigital video cassette 12 and the subcode portion 64 of the video tape27 under the control of the controller 35. The information is recordedon the option area 54 of the cassette attached memory 16 by transmittingdata from the controller 35 through the terminals 34, 15 to the cassetteattached memory 16. The information is recorded on the subcode portion64 of the video tape 27 by supplying the data from the controller 35 tothe channel coding unit 25. The information about the cue point isrecorded in the form of the pack shown in FIGS. 12 and 17.

[0060]FIG. 31 is a diagram schematically showing a state of the videotape 27 presented when the cue points are designated at two pointsthereon upon the recording of the above video information. In thisfigure, RS represents a recording start point, RE represents a recordingend point, CUE1 represents a first cue point, and CUE2 represents asecond cue point.

[0061] An operation of designating the cue point upon the recording ofthe video information has been described. In this embodiment, it ispossible to designate the cue point by using the operation unit 33 whenthe video information recorded on the video tape 27 is reproduced by thedigital VTR unit 20 or the digital video cassette recorder 13 shown inFIG. 3. In this case, when the cue point is designated, a user may oncestop the reproduction operation and then operate the operation unit 33,or may operate the operation unit 33 while the reproduction is beingcarried out. A method of recording the information about the cue pointdesignated upon the reproduction of the video information on thecassette attached memory 16 and the video tape 27 is similar to thatemployed upon the recording of the video signal. When the videoinformation is reproduced, the signal recorded on the video tape 27 isreproduced therefrom by the video head 26, decoded by the channel codingunit 25, subjected to the error correction processing by the errorcorrection processing unit 24, converted by the D/A converter 28 into ananalog signal which is then output from the output terminal 29.

[0062] Subsequently, there will be described with reference to FIG. 29an operation for recording the video information on the video tape 27 asdescribed above and recording the index picture information on theprepared video tape 27 by using the digital video cassette 12 having thecassette attached memory 16 and the video tape 27 in which theinformation such as the mark-in point, the cue point and so on isrecorded. FIG. 29 typically shows the state of the video tape 27 at thetime of preparing the index picture information. Preparation of theindex picture information is performed by the digital video cassetterecorder 13 shown in FIG. 3. When the user instructs preparation of theindex picture information by using the operational unit 33, thecontroller 35 of the digital video cassette recorder 13 reads out theinformation of all mark-in points, that is, the time code from theattached memory 16 of a cassette, and controls the mechanical unit 31,and makes the video tape 27 pre-roll to the pre-roll point for the firstmark-in point. Thereafter, under the control of the controller 35, thepicture of the first mark-in point, that is, the index picture 91 isreproduced, and a signal corresponding to the decoded index picture 91decoded by the picture signal compression coding/decoding unit 23 issupplied to the index generating unit 40, and then stored in the indexmemory 41. Subsequently, under the control of the controller 35, thevideo tape 27 is pre-rolled to the pre-roll point to reproduce thepicture of the second mark-in point, that is, the index picture 92, anda signal corresponding to the decoded index picture 92 decoded by thepicture signal compression coding/decoding unit 23 is supplied to theindex generating unit 40, and then stored in the index memory 41. As forthe third mark-in point and the following points, the control issimilarly carried out.

[0063] Furthermore, the index generating unit 40 supplies a signalcorresponding to the fetched index picture to the picture signalcompression coding/decoding unit 23 for compressing and reducing thepicture. The picture signal compression coding/decoding unit 23 performsDCT processing onto the sent signal by the block of a specified size,and sends the DC (direct current) component with respect to every blockto the index generating unit 40. The index generating unit 40 prepares acompressed and reduced index picture by using the DC component for everyblock, and stores the data of this compressed and reduced index picturein a position of a specified address in the index memory 41, andprepares the index picture information as the picture information of thegroup picture of the compressed and reduced index picture (that is, thesimple index picture). When the index generating unit 40 has stored thedata of the compressed and reduced index picture for the specifiedcapacity assigned for the index picture information to the index memory41, the controller 35 shifts the switch 39, and outputs the indexpicture information from the index generating unit 40, and inputs thatthrough the switch 39 into the picture signal compressioncoding/decoding unit 23, and controls the mechanical unit 31 so that thestate may be a state capable of recording the signal in a specifiedposition (for example, after the recording end point RE or after therecording start point RS) of the video tape 27. The index pictureinformation outputted from the index generating unit 40 is compressedand coded by the picture signal compression coding/decoding unit 23, andis subjected to a specified processing in the color correctionprocessing section 24 and the channel coding unit 25, and is recorded ina specified position of the video tape 27 by the video head 26.

[0064]FIGS. 29 and 32 shows an example in which the index pictureinformation 93 is recorded following after the recording end point RE.Furthermore, FIGS. 30 and 33 shows an example in which the index pictureinformation 93 is recorded following after the recording start point RS,after preparing the index picture information similarly to the exampleof FIGS. 29 and 32. By the way, after the recording start point RS, theblack signal is recorded originally for several seconds, and even if theindex picture information 93 is recorded in this position, the pictureinformation is not broken.

[0065] When the index picture information 93 has been recorded in thevideo tape 27, the controller 35 records the time code of the recordingposition on the video tape 27 of the index picture information 93 intothe option area 54 of the attached memory 16 of a cassette by using thepacks IPadd1, IPadd2, and records that in the sub code section 64 of aspecified position (for example, a position equal to the recordingposition of the index picture information 93 or a position near theposition) of the video tape 27.

[0066]FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram showing one example of a picturedisplayed by the index picture information. This example is an exampleof NTSC system, and in 1 frame of 720 dots×480 lines, up to 32 pieces ofcompressed and reduced index pictures are arranged. In the figure, theparts marked with the reference numerals 1 to 32 represent indexpictures, and the index pictures are recorded in order of time (in theincreasing order of the time code) and in order of the referencenumerals 1 to 32 in the figure. If there are thirty-two index picturesor more, the index picture information is recorded on a plurality offrames.

[0067] Furthermore, until now, the case where the picture of eachmark-in point, each cue point or the like is made to be an index pictureunconditionally, has been described, but in the present embodiment, itis also possible that a picture agreeing with desired conditions amongthe pictures of respective mark-in points, is selected and made to be anindex picture, on the basis of the information of OK/NG, the takenumber, and the scene number as the additional information.

[0068]FIG. 35 is a flow chart showing the action of the controller 35 inthe case of selecting the index picture on the basis of the informationof OK/NG and the take number. In this example, the NG scene selectionmode selecting only the NG scene, the OK scene selection mode selectingonly the OK scene, and the specified take selection mode selecting onlythe take with a specified take number, are specified. These modes arearranged to be selected by the operation of the operational unit 33 bythe user. In the action shown in FIG. 35, the controller 35 first judgeswhether the mode is the NG scene selection mode or not (step S101). Whenthe mode is the NG scene selection mode (Y), it searches for an NG scenefrom the attached memory 16 of a cassette (step S102). Specifically, itchecks in turn the flags showing OK/NG in the pack IPn1 recorded in theoption area 54 of the attached memory 16 of a cassette. Next, thecontroller 35 judges whether there is an NG scene or not (step S103),and if there is an NG scene (Y), it takes in the picture of the mark-inpoint in the NG scene as an index picture (step S104), and finishes theaction of the selection of the index picture.

[0069] In the case where the mode is not the NG scene selection mode(step S101; N) and in the case where there is no NG scene (step S103;N), the controller 35 judges whether the mode is the OK scene selectionmode or not (step S105). In the case where the mode is the OK sceneselection mode (Y), it searches for an OK scene from the attached memory16 of a cassette (step S106). Specifically, it checks in turn the flagsshowing OK/NG in the pack IPn1 recorded in the option area 54 of theattached memory 16 of a cassette. Subsequently, if there is an OK scene(Y), it takes in the picture of the mark-in point in the OK scene as anindex picture (step S108), and finishes the action of the selection ofthe index picture.

[0070] In the case where the mode is not the OK scene selection mode(step S105; N) and in the case where there is no OK scene (step S107;N), the controller 35 judges whether the mode is the specified takeselection mode or not (step S109). In the case where the mode is thespecified take selection mode (Y), it searches for specified take datafrom the attached memory 16 of a cassette (step S110). Specifically, itchecks in turn the take numbers in the pack IPn1 recorded in the optionarea 54 of the attached memory 16 of a cassette, and extracts a takenumber agreeing with the specified take number. Furthermore, thespecifying of the take number is arranged to be performed by theoperation of the operational unit 33 by the user. Next, the controller35 judges whether there is a specified take or not (step S111), and ifthere is a specified take (Y), it takes in the picture of the mark-inpoint in the specified take as an index picture (step S112), andfinishes the action of the selection of the index picture. In the casewhere the mode is not the specified take selection mode (step S109; N)and in the case where there is no specified take (step S111; N), thecontroller 35 finishes the action of the selection of the index picture.

[0071] Furthermore, in the example shown in FIG. 32, a case of selectingan index picture by specifying the scene number, is not shown, and thiscan be realized similarly to the case of selecting an index picture byspecifying the take number.

[0072] As described above, in this embodiment, even if the index pictureinformation is not generated upon the image pickup, it is possible togenerate the index picture information based on the index information(i.e., information of the mark-in point, the mark-out point, the cuepoint) recorded on the cassette attached memory 16 and the video tape 27and to then record the index picture information on the video tape 27.Therefore, even when the shooting processing is carried out with anequipment having no function to generate the index picture information,if the index picture information is later generated and then recorded onthe video tape 27, then it is possible to efficiently carry out anedition work using the index picture information (e.g, to improve anoperation for searching for the head of a desired position of the videotape 27 and to inform outlines of the video information recorded on thevideo tape 27).

[0073] Moreover, according to this embodiment, it is possible to selecta picture satisfying a desired condition based on the index informationand the additional information to employ it as the index picture, whichenables more sufficient editing work.

[0074] According to this embodiment, since the index information and theadditional information are recorded on both the cassette attached memory16 and the video tape 27, even if the filming is carried out with thedigital video cassette 12 having no cassette attached memory 16, then itis possible to generate the index picture information and then record iton the video tape 27.

[0075] An operation of a modifying processing for modifying the indexinformation, the additional information and the index pictureinformation recorded on the cassette attached memory 16 and the videotape 27 will be described with reference to FIGS. 36 and 37 which areflowcharts therefor. This modifying processing is carried out by thedigital video cassette recorder 13 shown in FIG. 3. When the user issuesa command to carry out the modifying processing by using the operationunit 33, the controller 35 carries out the modifying processing shown inFIGS. 36 and 37. When this modifying processing is carried out, thecontroller 35 has already read out the index information and theadditional information recorded in the cassette attached memory 16. Thisreading operation is automatically carried out when the digital videocassette 12 is loaded onto the digital video cassette recorder 13.

[0076] In the modifying processing, the controller 35 initiallydetermines whether or not the mark-in switch is pressed (in step S101).If it is determined that the mark-in switch is pressed (as representedby Y in the figure), the controller 35 temporarily stores the time codeof the mark-in point (in step S102). If it is determined that themark-in switch is not pressed (S101; N), the controller 35 determineswhether or not the mark-out switch is pressed (in step S103). If it isdetermined that the mark-out switch is pressed (as represented by Y inthe figure), the controller 35 temporarily stores the time code of themark-out point (in step S104). After storing the time codes of themark-in and mark-out points (in steps S102 and step S104), thecontroller 35 compares the time codes of a pair of the mark-in andmark-out points (in step S105) and then determines whether or not thetime code of the mark-in point is smaller that the time code of themark-out point (in step S106). If it is determined that the time code ofthe mark-in point is smaller that the time code of the mark-out point,the controller registers the mark-in point and the mark-out point (instep S107). The pair of a mark-in point and a mark-out point are themark-in point and the mark-out point in the same scene and the take. Inthe modifying processing shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, it is possible tomodify only the mark-in point or the mark-out point. When only themark-in point or the mark-out point is modified, a modified point iscompared with a point which is not modified.

[0077] If it is determined that the mark-out switch is not pressed(S103; N), if it is determined that the time code of the mark-in pointis smaller that the time code of the mark-out point (S106; N), or if itis determined that registration of the mark-in point and the mark-outpoint is finished (in step S107), then the controller 35 determineswhether or not the cue switch is pressed (in step S108). If it isdetermined that the cue switch is pressed (as represented by Y), thenthe controller temporarily stores the time code of the cue point (instep S109; Y) and then determines whether or not the cue point isdifferent from the cue point which has already been designated (in stepS110). If it is determined that the cue point is different therefrom(S110; Y), then the controller 35 registers the different cue point (instep S111).

[0078] If it is determined that the cue switch is not pressed (S108; N),if it is determined that the cue switch is not different (S110; N) or ifit is determined that registration of the different cue point isfinished (step S111), then the controller 35 determined whether or notthe OK/NG switch is pressed (in step S112). If it is determined that theOK/NG switch is pressed, the controller 35 registers the designated OKor NG flag. If it is determined the OK/NG switch is not pressed (stepS112; N) or if the registration of the OK or NG flag is finished (stepS113), then the controller 35 determined whether or not any registrationhas been carried out (S114). If it is determined that the registrationhas been carried out (as represented by Y), the controller 35 rewritesthe packs IPn1, IPn2, CUEn in the cassette attached memory 16 and thevideo tape 27.

[0079] The controller 35 determines whether or not a function togenerate the index picture information is provided (in step S116). If itis determined that the function is provided (Y), then the controllermodifies the index picture information (in step S117). If it isdetermined that the function to generate the index picture informationis not provided (in step S116; N) or if the modification of the indexpicture information (step S117) is finished, then the controller 35determines whether or not the modification command has been executed.(in step S118). If it is determined that the modification command hasalready been executed (Y), the controller 35 determines whether or not afunction to generate the index picture information is determined (instep S119). If it is determined that the function is provided (Y), thenthe controller writes the modified index picture information in thevideo tape 27 and then writes the packs IPadd1 and IPadd2 in thecassette attached memory 16 and the video tape 27 (in step S120),thereafter finishing the modifying processing. If it is determined thatthe function to generate the index picture information is not provided(step S119; N), then the modifying processing is ended. If it isdetermined that no registration is executed (step S114; N) or if it isdetermined that the modification command has not been executed (S118;N), then the processing returns to step S101.

[0080] The modifying processing shown in FIGS. 36 and 37 includes aprocessing for changing and adding the mark-in point and the like. Themode for changing the mark-in point and the like and the mode for addingit are switched by using a mode switch provided in the operation unit33.

[0081] An operation for changing the mark-in point will specifically bedescribed with reference to FIG. 38. FIG. 38 is a diagram schematicallyshowing a state of the video tape 27 presented when a mark-in point ofone scene on the video tape 27 where two pairs of the mark-in point andthe mark-out point are designated similarly to the example shown in FIG.29 is changed. In this figure, reference symbol RS represents arecording start point, RE represents a recording end point, MARK-IN1represents a first mark-in point obtained before the change, MARK-OUT1represents a first mark-out point, MARK-IN2 represents a second mark-inpoint, and MARK-OUT2 represents a second mark-out point. Each of arecording source between the first mark-in and mark-out points and arecording source between the second mark-in and mark-out points areadded with the additional information such as the OK/NG, the take numberand the scene number. Before the change of the mark-in point, the indexpicture information includes an index picture information includes anindex picture 91 off the first mark-in point which is not changed and anindex picture 92 at the second mark-in point.

[0082] When the first mark-in point is changed, the video tape 27 isreproduced and a user selects a new first mark-in point and presses themark-in switch of the operation unit 33 while watching a reproducedpicture. If a time at when the mark-in switch is pressed belongs to thesame scene and take as those of the first mark-in point set before thechange, the time code obtained when the mark-in switch is pressed istemporarily stored as the time code of the new first mark-in point (instep S102). IN FIG. 38, the new first mark-in point is represented byKARK-IN1N. If it is determined that the time code of the new firstmark-in point MARK-IN1N is smaller than the time code of the firstmark-out point MARK-OUT1 (step S106; Y), the new first mark-in pointMARK-IN1N is registered (in step S107). Consequently, the data of thefirst mark-in point MARK-in 1 set before the change on the cassetteattached memory 16 and the video tape 27 are replaced with the data ofthe new first mark-in point MARK-IN1N (in step S115).

[0083]FIG. 39 is a diagram showing change of the data in the cassetteattached memory 16 presented when the first mark-in point is changed asdescribed above. FIG. 39(a) is a diagram showing the data which have notbeen changed, and FIG. 39(b) is a diagram showing the changed data. Asshown in the figure, in an option area in the cassette attached memory16, the packs IP11(MARK-IN1), IP12(MARK-IN1) where the data of theprevious first mark-in point MARK-IN1 are recorded are changed to thepacks IP11(MARK-IN1N), IP12(MARK-IN1N) where data of the new firstmark-in point MARK-IN1N are recorded.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 38, when the new first mark-in point MARK-IN1Nis registered, the index picture 91N thereof is supplied to the indexgenerating unit 40 and consequently the index picture information isalso modified. This modification of the index picture information willbe described with reference to FIG. 40. FIG. 40(a) is a diagram showinga state of the index picture information in the index memory 41 beforethe first mark-in point is changed. In this figure, reference numeral201 represents an index picture obtained after the previous firstmark-in point is compressed and reduced. An arrow in this figurerepresents a recording order of the index pictures.

[0085] The index picture information is stored in the index memory 41before the modifying processing is executed. In a method of the storage,the index picture information 93 recorded on the video tape 27 may beread and stored in the index memory 41, or each of index pictures may befetched from the video tape 27 based on the index information recordedon the cassette attached memory 16 to generate the index pictureinformation which is to be stored in the index memory 41.

[0086] When the new first mark-in point MARK-IN point MARK-IN1N isregistered, as shown in FIG. 40(a), the index generating unit 40 replacethe compressed and reduced index picture 201 of the previous firstmark-in point MARK-IN1 with the compressed and reduced index picture201N of the new first mark-in point MARK-IN1N.

[0087] Correspondence between the index picture information and data inthe cassette attached memory 16 in the example shown in FIG. 38 or FIG.40 will be described with reference to FIG. 41. FIG. 41(a) is a diagramshowing an index picture information, and FIG. 41(b) is a diagramshowing data of the cassette attached memory 16. As shown in FIG. 41(a),in the index picture information, the compressed and reduced indexpictures of the mark-in points MARK-IN1N, MARK-IN2, MARK-IN3, . . . arerecorded in an order of numerals 1 to 32 in the figure. Then, paris ofthe packs IPn1 and IPn2 corresponding to each index picture are storedin the cassette attached memory 16 from a head address of a subarea inan order of the numerals in FIG. 41(a). therefore, the address of thecassette attached memory 16 where the pair of the packs IPn1 and IPn2are recorded and the position of each index picture in the index pictureinformation correspond to each other.

[0088] Addition of the mark-in point and the mark-out point willspecifically be described with reference to FIG. 42. FIG. 42 is adiagram schematically showing a state of the video tape 27 presentedwhen new mark-in and mark-out points are added to the video tape 27where two pairs of mark-in and mark-out points are designated.

[0089] When the mark-in point and the mark-out point are added, thevideo tape 27 is reproduced. Then, a user select a new mark-in pointMARK-IN3 and presses the mark-in switch of the operation unit 33 whilewatching a reproduced picture, and the user further selects a newmark-out point MARK-OUT3 and presses the mark-out switch of theoperation unit 33. The mark-in point and the mark-out point belong tothe same scene and take (in the example of FIG. 42, to the same sceneand take of the second mark-in point MARK-IN2 and the mark-out pointMARK-OUT2), and the mark-in point MARK-IN3 and the mark-out pointMARK-OUT3 are registered and thus additionally registered in thecassette attached memory 16 and the video tape 27. In this example, thetime code of the third mark-in point MARK-IN3 is smaller than the timecode of the second mark-in point MARK-IN2.

[0090]FIG. 43 is a diagram showing change of the data in the cassetteattached memory 16 obtained when the mark-in point MARK-IN3 and themark-out point MARK-OUT3 are added as described above. FIG. 43(a) is adiagram showing the data state before change, and FIG. 43(b) is adiagram showing the data state after the change. As shown in thesefigures, in the option area in the cassette attached memory 16, the dataof the second mark-in point MARK-IN2 and the succeeding points arerecorded again areas whose addresses are added by two-pack amount, apair of packs IP21(MARK-IN3) and the IP22(MARK-IN3) of a new thirdmark-in point MARK-IN3 are inserted between a pair of packs IP11(MARK-IN1) and IP12 (MARK-IN1) of the first mark-in point MARK-IN1 and apair of packs IP31 (MARK-IN2) and IP32 (MARK-IN2) of the first mark-inpoint MARK-IN2.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 42, when the new third mark-in point MARK-IN2 isregistered, an index picture 203 thereof is fetched into the indexgenerating unit 40 and consequently the index picture information isalso modified. Modification of the index picture information will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 44. FIG. 44(a) is a diagram showing astate of the index picture information in the index memory 41 before thethird mark-in point and the third mark-out point are added. IN thisfigure, reference numerals 211, 212 respectively represent compressedand reduced index pictures of the first mark-in point MARK-IN1 and thesecond mark-in point MARK-IN2.

[0092] When the new third mark-in point MARK-IN3 is registered, as shownin FIG. 44(b), the index generating unit 40 rearranges the compressedand reduced index picture 212 and the succeeding compressed and reducedindex pictures by moving them backward one by one in the order ofregistration and locates a compressed and reduced index picture 213 ofthe new third mark-in point MARK-IN3 between the compressed and reducedindex picture 211 of the first mark-in point MARK-IN1 and the compressedand reduced index picture 212 of the second mark-in point MARK-IN2.

[0093] IN the index memory 41, the position of each of the indexpictures in the index picture information and the address thereof in theindex memory 41 correspond to each other. Therefore, the above-mentionedrearrangement of the index pictures can easily be carried out bychanging a storage position (address) of each index picture in the indexmemory 41.

[0094] Correspondence between the index picture informations and thedata in the cassette attached memory 16 in the example shown in FIG. 42or 44 will be described with reference to FIG. 45. A method of writingthe modified index picture information includes a method of recordingthe modified index picture information on the video tape 27independently of the index picture information already recorded on thevideo tape 27 and a method of overwriting the modified index pictureinformation on a portion of the video tape 27 where the index pictureinformation is already recorded.

[0095] The method of recording the modified index picture information onthe video tape 27 independently of the index picture information alreadyrecorded on the video tape 27 will be described with reference too FIG.46. FIG. 46 is a diagram schematically showing a state of the video tape27 when the new third mark-in point and the new third mark-out point areadded to the video tape 27 where two pairs of mark-in and mark-outpoints are designated as described with reference to FIG. 42. In thisexample, the index picture information 93 which has not been modified isrecorded at a position immediately succeeding a recording end point REon the video tape 27, and the modified index picture information 93 isrecorded at the succeeding position thereof. In this case, since theindex picture information 93 which has not been modified and themodified index picture information 94 are recorded on the video tape 27,it is possible for a user to confirm the difference between the indexpictures set before and after the modification.

[0096] The method of recording the modified index picture information 93on the video tape 27 independently of the index picture information 93which has not been modified will be described with reference too FIG.47. FIG. 47(a) is a diagram showing a state of the cassette attachedmemory 16 before the modification, and FIG. 47(b) is a diagram showing astate of the cassette attached memory 16 after the modification. Asshown in these figures, the packs IPadd1, IPadd2 indicating therecording position of the unmodified index picture information 92 on thevideo tape 27 are set void. Specifically, the IP bit of the pack IPadd2shown in FIG. 19 is set to “0” (void). Then, packs IPadd1, IPadd2Nindicating the recording positions of the modified index pictureinformation 94 on the video tape 27 are recorded in the cassetteattached memory 16. In the pack IPadd2 shown in FIG. 47(a) and the packIPadd2N shown in FIG. 47(b), the IP bits are set to “1” (valid).

[0097] In the example shown in FIG. 47, since the packs IPn1, IPn2stored in the cassette attached memory 16 correspond to the modifiedindex picture information 94 and does not correspond to the unmodifiedindex picture information 93, it is impossible to obtain informationsuch as time code corresponding to each index picture included in theunmodified index picture information 93. However, if the cassetteattached memory 16 has a large storage capacity, the packs IPn1 and IPn2corresponding to the unmodified index picture information 93 are kept inthe cassette attached memory 16 as they are, thereby making it possibleto obtain information such as time codes corresponding to respectiveindex pictures included in the unmodified index picture information 93.

[0098] A method of overwriting the modified index picture information ona portion of the video tape 27 where the unmodified index pictureinformation 93 is recorded will be described with reference to FIGS. 48and 49. FIG. 48 is a diagram showing a state in which on the video tape27 where the unmodified index picture information 93 is recorded at theposition succeeding the recording end point RE similarly to the exampleof FIG. 46, the modified index picture information 94 is overwritten onthe portion where the unmodified index picture information 93 is alreadyrecorded.

[0099]FIG. 49(a) is a diagram showing a state of the cassette attachedmemory 16 before the modification, and FIG. 49(b) is a diagram showing astate of the cassette attached memory 16 after the modification. A shownin these figures, when the modified index picture information 94 isoverwritten, the packs IPadd1 and IPadd2 indicating the recordingposition of the unmodified index picture information 93 on the videotape 27 are replaced with the packs IPadd1N and IPadd2N of the modifiedindex picture information 94 on the video tape 27.

[0100] Subsequently, a method of, to modify the index pictureinformation, storing the unmodified index picture information in theindex memory 41 before the modifying processing is executed will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 50 and 51. As described above, themethod of storing the unmodified index picture information in the indexmemory 41 includes the method of reading the index picture informationrecorded on the video tape 27 to store it in the index memory 41 and themethod of fetching the respective index pictures from the vide tape 27to generate the index picture information which is to be stored in theindex memory 41.

[0101]FIG. 50 is a flowchart used to explain an operation of for readingthe index picture information recorded on the video tape 27 to store itin the index memory 41. This operation is carried out by the digitalvide cassette recorder 13 shown in FIG. 3 and is carried out initiallywhen the user issues a command to carry out the modifying processingshown in FIGS. 36 and 37 with the operation unit 33. IN the operationshown in FIG. 50, the controller 35 read the packs IPadd1 and IPadd2indicating the recording position of the index picture information onthe video tape 27 (in step S131). The controller 35 carries out anoperation for searching for a head position of the recording position ofthe index picture information on the video tape 27 (setting a playbackstart position) (in step S132). Specifically, the controller 35 sets aplayback start position to a pre-roll point located by a predeterminedtime (e.g., five seconds) ahead of the recording position of the indexpicture information. The controller 35 starts reproducing the video tape27 (in step S133). The controller 35 is brought in its standby stateuntil a reproduction head reaches a playback point of a designated pointof the video tape 27, i.e., the recording position of the index pictureinformation (in step S134). If the head reaches the recording positionof the index picture information, the controller writes the reproducedindex picture information in the index memory 41 (in step S135), andthen the processing is ended.

[0102] As described with reference to FIG. 41 and so on, in the cassetteattached memory 16, a pair of packs IPn1 and IPn2 of each of the indexpictures in the index picture information is stored in the recordingorder of the index pictures. Each of the index pictures in the indexpicture information and the pair of the packs IPn1 and IPn2 in the indexpicture information correspond to each other.

[0103] Although the operation shown in FIG. 50 enjoys the advantage thatthe index picture information can be stored in the index memory 41quickly (with shorter time), the picture quality becomes deterioratedbecause the index picture information is used for the modifyingprocessing and the modified index picture information is compressedagain and then recorded on the video tape 27.

[0104]FIG. 51 is a flowchart used to explain an operation for fetchingeach index picture from the video tape 27 based on the index informationrecorded in the cassette attached memory 16 to generate the indexpicture information which is to be stored in the index memory 41. Thisoperation is carried out by the digital video cassette recorder 13 shownin FIG. 3 and initially carried out when a user issues a command tocarry out the modifying processing shown in FIGS. 36 and 37. In theoperation shown in FIG. 51, the controller 35 reads all the packs IPn1,IPn2, CUEn from the cassette attached memory 16 or the video tape 27 (instep S141). The controller 35 controls an operation for rewinding thevideo tape 27 to its head (in step S142). The controller 35 issues acommand to start reproduction of the video tape 27 (in step S143). Thecontroller 35 is brought in its standby state until a playback headreaches a playback point of the designated point, i.e., a recordingposition of an index picture based on each of the index informations (instep S144). When the head reaches the recording position of the indexpicture, the video data of the reproduced index picture is written inthe index memory 41 (in step S145). The controller 35 determines whetheror not the operation for fetching the video data of all the indexpicture has been finished (in step S146). If it is determined that theoperation has not been finished (as represented by N), the processingreturns to step S144, wherein the video data of the next index pictureis fetched. If the controller 35 determines that the operation forfetching the video data of all the index pictures has been finished (instep S146; Y), then the operation is ended. The video data of each ofthe fetched index pictures are compressed and reduced by the indexgenerating unit 40 and the video signal compression coding and decodingunit 23 and stored in a predetermined storage position (address) in theindex memory 41, thereafter the index picture information beinggenerated.

[0105] As to the index picture information generated by the operationshown in FIG. 41 and stored in the index memory 41, each of the indexpictures in the index picture information and the pair of packs IPn1 andIPn2 in the cassette attached memory 16 correspond to each other.

[0106] In the operation shown in FIG. 41, although the operation forstoring the index picture information in the index memory 41 is carriedout slowly (with long period of time), this operation can enjoy theadvantage that even if the index picture information is modified andthen recorded on the video tape 27, the picture quality is preventedfrom being deteriorated as compared with the unmodified index pictureinformation.

[0107] As described above, according to the index picture generatingmethod and apparatus of this embodiment, even if the index pictureinformation is not generated upon the shooting, it is possible togenerate the index video information based on the index information(information about the mark-in point, the mark-out point and the cuepoint) and the additional information (i.e., information such as theOK/NG, the take number, the scene number) to then record it on the videotape 27. Therefore, even if the shooting is carried out with anequipment having no function to generate the index picture information,the index picture information is late generated and recorded on thevideo tape 27, thereby making it possible to efficiently carry out theediting work using the index picture information (i.e., improving anoperation for searching for a desired head position on the video tape 27or introducing outlines of the video information recorded on the videotape 27).

[0108] Moreover, according to the index picture generating method andapparatus of this embodiment, it is possible to generate the indexpicture by selecting a picture matched with a desired condition based onthe index information and the additional information and to employ apicture which the user desires as the index picture since the indexpicture is generated optionally or by designation. Therefore, it ispossible to more efficiently carry out the editing work.

[0109] According to this embodiment, since the index information, theadditional information and the index picture information recorded on thevideo tape 27 and in the cassette attached memory 16 can be modifiedlater, it is possible to carry out rough editing processing before themain editing work, which leads to more efficient editing work.

[0110] According to the index picture generating method and apparatus ofthis embodiment, since the index information and the additionalinformation are recorded on both the cassette attached memory 16 and thevideo tape 27, even if the shooting is carried out with the digitalvideo cassette 12 having not cassette attached memory 16, then it ispossible to generate the index picture information later and record iton the video tape 27.

[0111] This embodiment can be applied to an equipment which does nothave a function to generate and modify the index picture information(see steps S116 to S120 of FIG. 37). In this case, it is possible tomodify only the index information and the additional information withoutmodifying the index picture information.

[0112] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.While in the embodiment the index information and the additionalinformation are recorded on both the cassette attached memory 16 and thevideo tape 27, they may be recorded on either of them. While in thisembodiment the time code of the recording position on the video tape 27of the index picture information is recorded on both the cassetteattached memory 16 and the video tape 27, it may be recorded on eitherof them.

[0113] While in this embodiment the index information and the additionalinformation recorded on the cassette attached memory 16 are used whenthe index picture information is generated, the index information andthe additional information recorded on the video tape 27 may be used.

[0114] THe digital VTR unit in the camera/recorder 11 may have thearrangement shown in FIG. 3 to generate and record the index pictureinformation.

[0115] While in this embodiment a user designates the cue point with theoperation unit 33, the cue point may be designated based on a triggersignal from the outside. The trigger signal from the outside may be asignal obtained by detecting a sound of a pistol used for a sport eventor an output signal from a sensor for detecting start or goal when auser shoots a scent in a sport event, or a signal output from a sensorfor detecting that a jet coaster passes through a predetermined positionwhen a user shoots a scene upon a jet coaster's passing by thepredetermined position. When the present invention is applied to amonitoring apparatus (e.g., an a camera for monitoring waves), thetrigger signal from the outside may be a trigger signal generated at apredetermined time (e.g., at high tide).

[0116] As described above, according to the index picture generatingmethod of the present invention and the index picture generatingapparatus of the present invention, since the index picture is selectedbased on at least the index information of the index information and theadditional information recorded on at least one of the recording mediumand the memory accompanying the recording medium and the index pictureinformation used for easily displaying this index information isgenerated and recorded on the recording medium, even if the indexpicture information is not generated upon the filming, it is possible togenerate the index picture information based on at least the indexinformation of the index information and the additional informationrecorded on at least one of the recording medium where the videoinformation is recorded and the memory attached to this recordingmedium, and it is possible to select the picture matched with a desiredcondition from the video information recorded on the recording medium togenerate the index picture information.

[0117] According to the apparatus of the present invention, since atleast one of the index information and the additional information ismodified and then recorded on at least one of the recording medium andthe memory, at least one of the index information and the additionalinformation can be modified latter, which leads to more efficientediting work.

1. An index picture generating method comprising the steps of: recordingan index information for specifying a point or an area which is locatedon a recording medium and serves as an index upon edition and anadditional information concerning attributes of a video information atthe point or area specified by said index information on at least one ofa recording medium used to record a video information and a memoryaccompanying said recording medium upon at least one of the recordingand reproduction of the video information; and based on at least saidindex information of said index information and said additionalinformation recorded on at least one of said recording medium and saidmemory, selecting an index picture used for edition from videoinformation on said recording medium and generating an index pictureinformation used for easily displaying said index picture to record saidindex picture information on said recording medium.
 2. An index picturegenerating method according to claim 1, wherein when said index pictureinformation is recorded on said recording medium, information forspecifying a recording position of said index picture information onsaid recording medium is recorded on at least one of said recordingmedium and said memory.
 3. An index picture generating apparatuscomprising: an index picture information generating means for, based onat least an index information of said index information for specifying apoint or an area located on a recording medium serving as an index uponedition and an additional information concerning attributes of a videoinformation at the point or area specified by said index informationwhich are recorded, selecting an index picture used for edition fromvideo information on said recording medium to generate an index pictureinformation used for easily displaying the index picture; and an indexpicture information recording means for recording said index pictureinformation generated by said index picture information recording meanson said recording medium.
 4. An index picture generating apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein when said index picture information isrecorded on said recording medium, said index picture informationrecording means records information for specifying a recording positionof said index picture information on said recording medium on at leastone of said recording medium and said memory.
 5. An index picturegenerating method comprising the steps of: recording an indexinformation for specifying a point which is located on a recordingmedium and serves as an index upon edition on at least one of arecording medium used to record a video information and a memoryaccompanying said recording medium; and based on at least said indexinformation recorded on at least one of said recording medium and saidmemory, selecting an index picture used for edition from videoinformation on said recording medium and generating an index pictureinformation used for easily displaying the index picture to record saidindex picture information on said recording medium.
 6. An index picturegenerating method according to claim 5, wherein when said index pictureinformation is recorded on said recording medium, information forspecifying a recording position of said index picture information onsaid recording medium is recorded on at least one of said recordingmedium and said memory.
 7. An index picture generating apparatuscomprising: an index picture information recording means for, by using arecording medium where an index information for specifying an optionalpoint which is located on a recording medium and serves as an index uponedition on at least one of a recording medium where a video informationis recorded and a memory accompanying said recording medium, based on atleast said index information recorded on at least one of said recordingmedium and said memory, selecting an index picture used for edition fromvideo information on said recording medium and generating an indexpicture information used for easily displaying the index picture torecord it on said recording medium.
 8. An index picture generatingmethod according to claim 7, wherein when said index picture informationis recorded on said recording medium, said index picture informationrecording means records information for specifying a recording positionof said index picture information on said recording medium on at leastone of said recording medium and said memory.
 9. An index pictureinformation modifying method comprising the steps of: an index pictureinformation modifying step of modifying an index picture informationwhich is used for easily displaying an index picture used for edition ofvideo information and which is recorded on a recording medium where saidvideo information is recorded; and an index picture storing step ofrecording the modified index picture information on said recordingmedium.
 10. An index picture information modifying method according toclaim 9, wherein in said index picture information modifying step, anunmodified index picture information recorded on said recording mediumis fetched, and the index picture information is modified by using saidunmodified index picture information.
 11. An index picture informationmodifying method according to claim 9, wherein in said index pictureinformation modifying step, an unmodified index picture information isgenerated based on an index information serving as an index for editionof video information, and an index picture information is modified byusing said unmodified index picture information.
 12. An index pictureinformation modifying method according to claim 9, wherein in said indexpicture information modifying step, the modified index pictureinformation is recorded independently of the unmodified index pictureinformation.
 13. An index picture information modifying method accordingto claim 9, wherein in said index picture information modifying step,the modified index picture information is overwritten on a portion ofsaid recording medium where the unmodified index picture information isrecorded.
 14. An index picture information modifying apparatuscomprising: an index picture information modifying means for modifyingan index picture information which is used for easily displaying anindex picture used for edition of video information and which isrecorded on a recording medium where said video information is recorded;and an index picture storing means for recording the index pictureinformation modified by said index picture information modifying meanson said recording medium.
 15. An index picture information modifyingmethod according to claim 14, wherein said index picture informationmodifying means modifies an unmodified index picture informationrecorded on said recording medium is fetched, and the index pictureinformation by using said unmodified index picture information.
 16. Anindex picture information modifying method according to claim 14,wherein said index picture information modifying means generates anunmodified index picture information based on an index informationserving as an index for edition of video information, and modifies anindex picture information by using said unmodified index pictureinformation.
 17. An index picture information modifying method accordingto claim 14, wherein said index picture information modifying recordsthe modified index picture information independently of the unmodifiedindex picture information.
 18. An index picture information modifyingmethod according to claim 14, wherein said index picture informationmodifying overwrites the modified index picture information on a portionof said recording medium where the unmodified index picture informationis recorded.
 19. An edition auxiliary information modifying methodcomprising the steps of: modifying an edition auxiliary information usedfor generating an index picture information used for easily displayingan index picture serving as an index for edition of the videoinformation, used for edition and recorded on at least one of arecording medium where the video information is recorded and a memoryaccompanying said recording medium, and recording said modified editionauxiliary information on at least one of said recording medium and saidmemory.
 20. An edition auxiliary information modifying method accordingto claim 19, wherein said edition auxiliary information includes anindex information for specifying a point or an area on a recordingmedium which serves as an index used upon edition.
 21. An editionauxiliary information modifying method according to claim 19, whereinsaid edition auxiliary information includes an additional informationconcerning an attribute of a video information in a point or an areaspecified by said index information.
 21. An edition auxiliaryinformation modifying method comprising: an edition auxiliaryinformation modifying means for modifying an edition auxiliaryinformation used for generating an index picture information used foreasily displaying an index picture serving as an index for edition ofthe video information, used for edition and recorded on at least one ofa recording medium where the video information is recorded and a memoryaccompanying said recording medium, and an edition auxiliary informationrecording means for recording said edition auxiliary informationmodified by said edition auxiliary information modifying means on atleast one of said recording medium and said memory.
 23. An editionauxiliary information modifying method according to claim 22, whereinsaid edition auxiliary information includes an index information forspecifying a point or an area on a recording medium which serves as anindex used upon edition.
 24. An edition auxiliary information modifyingmethod according to claim 22, wherein said edition auxiliary informationincludes an additional information concerning an attribute of a videoinformation in a point or an area specified by said index information.